Stop for strand covering machines



Dec. 10,1946.

H. L. cRUM 2,412,324

STOP FOR STRAND COVERING MACHINES Filed April 2l, 1945 JNVENToR MaruL. 6kg/7a BYA ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 10, 1946 U NITE-D STATE S PAT EN T O FFI CE s'ror ron STRAND covsnlNG MAcniNEs Howard L. Crum, St. Louis, vM0. spontanen April 21, 1945, serial No. 589,526

l3 claims. 1

, This invention relates to anattachmentlor stop 'device for a strand covering machine.

Such a machine is employed to cover a strand lwith a vfabric coating, either by braiding or knitting a sleeve upon' and about the strand which usually is, Ubut not necessarily an electric conductor. One -such machine is illustrated and de- Scribed in Patent NO; 2,084,770, issued June 22,

1937, and its ,commercial embodiment manufactured -by Wardwell Braiding Machine Co., of Central Falls, R. I., and sold under the trade name Wardwellian The embodiment of the present invention specifically illustrated and described herein is adapted for use on that particular machine. It will be understood, of course, that the present invention is not limited to use with this particular machine, and specific mention thereof is made merely to better describe the invention and its application by an exempliilcation f its use.

Such machines are automatic and do not require the constant and undivided attention of an operator. Hence, in actual commercial practice 'several machines are placed under the supervision of one operator. The result has been that when the reel supplying the inner core is empty, the machine will continue to weave or braid the envelope or fabric sleeve, causing extensive loss in material, since such empty sleeve must be discarded. The primary object of this invention is to prevent this loss and to stop the machine when the core is no longer being fed to it.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device which may be attached to the machine Without material modification of it, and which is simple in construction, and eflicient in operation.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. l is a plan View of an attachment embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section showing position of the parts under normal operating conditions;

Fig. 3 is a View, similar to Fig. 2, showing the position of the parts when the core or strand is not being fed;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 4--4, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram.

The attachment, illustrated in Fig. l, is secured to the strand covering machine at its point of output; or more specifically to the end of a tube I, from which the completed cable 2 is discharged. The cable includes a central strand 2c which is usually but not necessarily, an elec, tric'conduc'tor, andthis conductor may be covered with insulating material. The strand is covered by the machine with a covering or sleeve of fabric 2b which may be either braided or woven. It emerges from the machine in this condition, as 'shown in Fig. 2. If the strand material being vfed to themachine is exhausted, the machine continues its operation, knitting or braiding a sleeve, which is unfilled and limp, as vshown at V3, Fig. 3.

The function of the device of the present in'- vention is to detect this limp unfilled sleeve, and in response to stop the machine so that wasteful operation will not continue. This is accomplished by controlling, or as specically shown, in closing an electric circuit which includes a responsive device to stop the machine.

The attachment includes a guide or sleeve 4 for the cable, which sleeve is secured by set screws 5 to the end of the discharge tube I of the covering machine. The attachment preferably has a bushing 5, pressed into the sleeve 4 and removable for replacement, when desired, because of wear or for the insertion of a bushing having a different bore to pass a cable of different size.

A notch 'I is cut in the cylindrical guide or sleeve correspondingly in the bushing 6 to provide a space for the operation of a feeler or dog 8, and a seat 9, upon which the dog may close,

to complete an electric circuit. The dog 8 and 'seat 9 are, in one aspect, terminals of an electric switch.

The dog 8 has a backing of insulating material comprising a block lil, to the face of which it ls attached by screws H, and in turn the block l0 is secured by a screw I2 to the end of a spring strip or resilient arm i3. The arm I3 is secured to the cylindrical guide or sleeve 4 by a screw I4, and is adjustably tensioned by a screw I5.

It may now be understood that as the cable 2 emerges from the machine in proper form, the dog 8 is kept away from the seat 9, but in the event of failure in supply of the strand 2a, the sleeve 2b is unlled and limp, permitting the dog 8, fastened to the end of the resilient arm I3 to close upon the seat 9, and thus complete an electric circuit and thereby stop the machine. A lead wire lli is electrically connected to the dog 8 by one of the screws Il.

A circuit, eiiective for the purpose, is illustrated in Fig. 5. The dog 8 and seat 9 form cooperating terminals of an electric switch, which when closed energizes a relay Il to open a circuit I8, which may be understood as supplying power to a motor which drives the machine. In actual practice, the switch 8, 9 may be connected in the circuit of a commercial control apparatus sometimes supplied with such machines and intended to operate in such a manner as to stop the machine responsive to conditions with which the present invention is not concerned. y

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that the invention accomplishes its objects. Various changes may be made in the details of construction, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

I claim:

1. A stop for a strand covering machine located at the discharge position on the machine, having a guide for the covered strand, a spring'pressed dog opposed to the guide and engaging the strand, an electric switch comprising a switch point xed to the guide and a cooperatinglswitch point secured to and movable with the dog in ,such a relationship that the two switch points will normally be heldapart by the covered strand passing between the guide and the dog but perrmitted to close in the absence of the strand, and electrical means for stopping the machine controlled by said switch, whereby the machine is stopped automatically after failure of a supply .of-*the strand to the machine.

Cal guide placed at the discharge position on the to press against a covered strand passing through the guide, and toward the said seat and forming a switch point cooperating with said seat, the parts being so positioned and proportioned that the two switch points will normally be held apart by the covered strand passing beneath the dog but permitted to close in the absence of the strand.

3. In a stop for a strand covering machine an attachment Vfor the machine including a guide atvthe discharge position on the machine and having an orice adapted to pass a covered strand as it issues from the machine, a seat on the guide adjacent the orice and forming a switch point, a spring pressed dog opposedto the guide and positioned topress against a covered strand adjacent said orifice and toward said seat and forming a switch point cooperating with said seat, the parts being so positioned and proportioned that the two switch points will normally be held apart by the covered strand passing beneath the dog but permitted to close in the absence of the strand.

HOWARD L. CRUM. 

